Music-rest for pianos.



No. 890,444. PATENTED JUNE 9, 1908. L. W. NORGROSS.

MUSIC BEST FOR PIANOS.

APPLICATION FILED DEO.21.1906.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LEVI WATSON NOROROSS, OF FORT WORTH, TEXAS.

MUSIC-REST FOR PIANOS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEVI WATSON NOR- onoss, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Fort Worth, in the county of Tarrant and State ofTexas, have invented a new and useful Music-Rest for Pianos, of'whichthe following is a specification.

This invention relates to a music rest designed more especially for useon pianos of that type in which the casing of the piano at the front andabove the keyboard is composed of two panels of which the upper one isadapted to fold outwardly and downwardly to form a support or desk forthe music, and on this panel the music is mounted.

The invention has for one of its objects to providea music rest ofsimple, inexpensive and durable construction which is mounted on thepiano frame so as to be adjustable for the purpose of permitting-themusic to be held at different heights according to the fancy of theplayer.

A further object of the invention is to provide a music rest which is ofattractive ap pearance and readily manipulated.

With these objects in view, and others, as will appear as the nature ofthe invention is better understood, the invention comprises the variousnovel features of construction and arrangement of parts, which will bemore fully described hereinafter and set forth with particularity in theclaims appended hereto.

In the accompanying drawing, which illustrates one of the embodiments ofthe inven tion, Figure 1 is a front elevation of the top portion of anupright piano showing the music rest applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a sideelevation, partly in section, of the piano. Fig. 3 is a perspective viewof one end of the bar of the music rest, the hanger and the brackettherefor.

Corresponding parts in the several figures are indicated throughout bysimilar characters of reference.

Referring to the drawing, 1 designates the frame of the piano, the frontof which, above the keyboard 2, is composed. of the lower main panel 3and the upper main panel 4 extending across the front of the piano andhinged to the cross bar 5 so as to swing from its closed to its openposition shown in Fig. 2.

In the present instance I have elected to,

show a piano construction of that character in my pending application,Serial N 0. 334,320, filed Sept. 12, 1906, in which the lowerSpecification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 21, 1906.

Patented June 9, 1908.

Serial No. 348,960.

panel is concaved so as to form a recess to receive the outer edge ofthe fall board 6 when the latter is swung open, thereby permitting thefall board to turn back to a greater extent than usual so that thehinged upper panel 4 of the front can swing down to a position near aperpendicular, so as to form a desk. I do not wish to be understood,however, that the music rest is necessarily limited to this form ofpiano, since it is adapted to other kinds with equal usefulness.

The music rest 7 which is preferably a bar of wood of approximately thelength of the upper panel and of suitable transverse dimension carriesat its ends hangers 8 that are adapted to engage with rest-supportingbrackets 9 which are preferably brass castings,

and are provided with apertures 10 for re ceiving the screws, or otherfastening devices, for securing the brackets to the side of the panel 4,which forms the front when the panel is swung down for use, and the rearwhen the panel is folded up into the piano frame when the piano isclosed. The hangers 8 are each provided with a pintle 12 extending fromone side of the body portion 13 thereof and engaging in the opening 13of the adj acent bracket. The arrangement of the parts is such that thehangers swing in a vertical plane about their horizontal pintles. Therest 7 is attached at its ends to the hangers in any suitable manner,as, for instance, the hangers are formed with rectangular eyes 14 intowhich the extremities of the rest are fitted. By means of these hangers,the rest is capable of being adjusted to two different positions. In thefull line position shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the rest is adjacent thelower edge of the desk or panel 4, so that the music will be heldcomparatively close to the keyboard, a position which is approved bysome players.

e held at a greater height, the rest 7 can be swung to the dotted lineposition where it will be close to the middle of the panel. In thisposition, the music will recline against the panel, andbe supported onthe edge of the rest which before was lowermost. It will thus be seenthat the rest can be adjusted very readily and that it is of simple andattractive form.

I have described the principle of opera-- tion of the invention,together with the device which I now consider to be the best embodimentthereof, but I desire to have it understood that the device shown ismerely For those who prefer the music to illustrative, and that variouschanges may be made, when desired, which are within the scope of theinvention.

What is claimed is 1. A piano having a hinged panel and a music restpivotally connected to the rear side thereof, the aXis of the saidpivotal connection being at a distance from the rest, said rest beingadapted to be swung independently of the movement of the panel throughthe arc of a circle to bring the rest to two dillerent music holdingpositions, one of which is adjacent to the lower edge of the panel andthe other above the longitudinal medial line thereof.

2. In a music rest for pianos, the combination of a supporting member, amusic holding bar adaptedto rest against the member in two difi erentpositions, hangers attached to the ends of the bar, pintles on thehangers, and brackets secured to the member and provided with openingsfor receiving the said pintles.

3. A music rest comprising a music holding member, a hanger at each endof the member provided with an eye for receiving one of the extremitiesof the latter, a pintle on each hanger, and brackets each having anopemng for receiving one of the pintles.

i. A piano comprising a frame having a hinged upper panel adapted toform a desk, and a keyboard, in combination with a music rest adjustableon the panel to diilerent heights above the keyboard and having twosurfaces adapted. to hold music one in either position.

5. A piano comprising a frame having a hinged upper panel adapted toform a desk, and a keyboard, in combination with a music rest comprisinga music supporting HIGlllbG/l, and means for mounting the member on thepanel to permit the member to swing to two different music holdingpositions, said memher having two surfaces adapted to hold music one ineither position.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aHiXedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

LEVI IVATSON NORCROSS.

Witnesses:

J. M. YOUNG-BLOOD, J. H. CURTIS.

